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Exporting pet food from Canada

Pet food exported from Canada may need an official zoosanitary health certificate signed by a CFIA veterinarian before the shipment leaves. The CFIA negotiates the conditions with each importing country and publishes certificates by country; the EU uses TRACES NT. Each certificate rests on the exporter's declaration and supporting test reports.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Export certificates
CFIA zoosanitary certificates, signed by a CFIA veterinarian
Certificates by country
Listed by HA number on the CFIA pet food page
European Union
Certificates through TRACES NT since 15 January 2022
No negotiated certificate
In-house certificate HA2341, at the exporter's commercial risk
CETA quota
60,000 tonnes of dog and cat food, with a Global Affairs Canada permit

Before the goods leave

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is there a negotiated CFIA certificate for the destination and product? Read more
  2. 2Does the destination require the plant to be approved or registered? Read more
  3. 3Is the exporter's declaration ready, with laboratory reports and traceability certificates? Read more
  4. 4Is the shipment going to the EU under the CETA dog and cat food quota? Read more
  5. 5Is an export declaration needed, and will the importer claim a preferential rate? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

CFIA zoosanitary export certificates

The animal health certificates the CFIA issues for pet food, treats and chews that contain animal products or by-products.

  • Pet foods exported from Canada may need an official zoosanitary health certificate issued by the CFIA, confirming the importing country's sanitary requirements are met.
  • Each shipment must be accompanied by an export certificate signed by a CFIA veterinarian before it leaves Canada; the CFIA will not issue one afterwards.
  • The CFIA lists the negotiated certificates by country and product, such as HA2828 for pet food, chews and treats to the United States.
  • Where no certificate has been negotiated, the exporter obtains the importing country's conditions and the CFIA may issue in-house certificate HA2341, with the exporter taking the commercial risk.
  • Since 15 January 2022, certification for direct export to the EU is done in TRACES NT; Iceland, Norway and Switzerland accept TRACES NT certification.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each signed certificate with the shipment and batch it covers, dated, and reads it against what the destination asks for. Ask about this

Exporter's declaration and supporting documents

What the exporter gives the certifying veterinarian for each certificate.

  • An exporter's declaration is needed for each certificate for each shipment, covering the destination's requirements other than the animal health statements the veterinarian certifies.
  • The declaration refers to an exporter's reference number and a batch number or unique identifier, is dated, and refers to product already made; an annual declaration is not accepted. The original paper declaration is required.
  • The veterinarian checks for the latest certificate version, the exporter's declaration and the microbiological laboratory reports.
  • Where a certificate attests to ante-mortem or post-mortem inspection, each load of raw material must come with a Traceability Certificate signed at the slaughterhouse.
  • Exporters have full responsibility for meeting the importing country's requirements and for giving the CFIA veterinarian satisfactory evidence.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the declaration, laboratory reports and traceability certificates with the batch they cover, and shows what is missing before the veterinarian is asked to sign. Ask about this

CFIA oversight, plant approvals and free sale

What the CFIA does and does not regulate for pet food, and the establishment approvals some importing countries require.

  • CFIA oversight of pet food is limited to the rules on importing and exporting animal products and by-products.
  • The CFIA inspects Canadian export manufacturing establishments to verify that products, facilities and practices meet the importing country's requirements.
  • Some countries require the establishment to be approved or registered first; the CFIA guideline sets out procedures for destinations including the EU, China, Korea, Brazil and Indonesia.
  • Production and sale of pet food in Canada are not regulated by the federal government, but the CFIA may issue a free sale declaration if the importing country's authority officially asks for one.
  • The CFIA does not regulate pet food labelling; the Competition Bureau has guidelines on it.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the plant's approvals and registrations with its products, dated, and shows which destinations a product's record supports. Ask about this

Export permits for dog and cat food to the EU

Dog and cat food shipped to the EU under the CETA origin quota needs a Global Affairs Canada permit.

  • CETA sets a 60,000 metric tonne origin quota for dog and cat food from Canada, under subheadings 2309.10 and ex 2309.90 (Export Control List item 5208).
  • A shipment-specific export permit is needed for each shipment under the quota, issued first come, first served until the quota is used.
  • The exporter gives the importer an origin declaration and a copy of the permit, and refers to Annex 5-A on the commercial invoice.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each quota permit with the shipment it was issued for, and shows an EU shipment that has no permit on record. Ask about this

Export declaration and reporting to the CBSA

How commercial goods are reported to the Canada Border Services Agency before they leave Canada, and what the exporter keeps afterwards.

  • In most cases an export declaration is needed for commercial goods. The most common exceptions are goods exported for consumption in the United States and non-restricted goods valued at less than CAN $2,000.
  • Goods moving through the United States to another destination, including goods entering the US on a transportation and exportation (T and E) bond, need a declaration.
  • Restricted goods, those controlled, regulated or prohibited under Canadian law, need their permit, certificate or licence whatever their value; going to the US they need no declaration, but the permit must still be presented.
  • Declarations are made through the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS) or G7 EDI, with a business number and RM export program identifier. The exporter gives the carrier the proof of report number.
  • Minimum time limits: 2 hours before loading for air and rail, 48 hours before loading for marine, 2 hours before delivery to the post office, and immediately before export by highway.
  • The exporter may delegate reporting to a customs service provider but remains responsible for the information, and keeps export records in Canada for 6 years.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the proof of report number, permits and export records with each shipment, dated, and shows what is missing before the goods are loaded. Ask about this

Certificates of origin under trade agreements

The document that lets the importer claim a preferential duty rate under one of Canada's free trade agreements, such as CUSMA, CETA or CPTPP.

  • A certificate of origin certifies that the good meets a free trade agreement's rules of origin; the importer must have it to claim preferential tariff treatment.
  • Under CETA, the Canada-UK TCA, CEFTA and CUFTA it is an origin declaration on an invoice or other commercial document. Canadian exporters enter their Business Number in the CETA declaration.
  • Under CUSMA and CPTPP it is a set of minimum data elements with no prescribed format, which the importer, exporter or producer may complete.
  • A certificate can cover one shipment, or identical goods over a blanket period of up to 12 months. It is valid for four years from signature.
  • Whoever certifies origin keeps the certificate and supporting records for six years, and must tell everyone they gave it to of any change affecting its accuracy.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each origin declaration with the products and shipments it covers, shows when a blanket period runs out, and answers importers' origin questions from the record. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ExporterMeeting the importing country's requirements, the exporter's declaration, quota permits and the export declaration.Declarations, certificates and permits kept with each shipment.
Pet food manufacturerLaboratory testing, traceability of raw materials and any establishment approval the destination requires.Test reports and approvals kept with each batch, dated.
CFIA veterinarianSigning the export certificate on matters within their knowledge or supported by documents.The supporting documents assembled before signing.
Global Affairs CanadaIssuing CETA origin quota permits for dog and cat food.Permits kept with the shipment they cover.

Where are the goods going?

Most of what pet food have to meet is set where they are sold. Each guide sets out the rules on arrival, with the official source for each.

Questions businesses ask

Do I need a certificate to export pet food from Canada?
It depends on the destination. Pet food may need an official zoosanitary health certificate issued by the CFIA confirming the importing country's sanitary requirements are met. The CFIA lists available certificates by country on its pet food export page.
Can the CFIA sign a pet food certificate after the shipment has left?
No. The certificate must be signed by a CFIA veterinarian before the shipment leaves Canada, and the CFIA will not issue one after it has left.
What if there is no negotiated certificate for my destination?
The exporter obtains the importing country's requirements, and the CFIA may issue in-house certificate HA2341. The exporter then takes the commercial risk, unless the importing country has issued an import permit.
How do I export pet food from Canada to the EU?
Certification for direct export to the EU is done in TRACES NT, since 15 January 2022. Facilities may need approval to export to the EU, and dog and cat food under the CETA quota needs a Global Affairs Canada permit.
What must the exporter's declaration for pet food include?
The destination's requirements other than animal health statements, an exporter's reference number and a batch number or unique identifier. It must be dated, refer to product already made, and be the original paper copy; annual declarations are not accepted.
Which certificate covers pet food exported to the United States?
The CFIA lists HA2828 for pet food, chews and treats, and HA3025 for raw pet food and treats. The CFIA asks exporters to confirm with their animal health office that a certificate is still valid before exporting.
Can I get a free sale certificate for Canadian pet food?
The production and sale of pet food in Canada are not federally regulated, but the CFIA may issue a free sale declaration if the importing country's competent authority officially requests one.
Does the CFIA regulate pet food labels?
No. The CFIA does not regulate labelling of Canadian pet food; it points to the Competition Bureau's guidelines on pet food labelling.
Do I need a permit to ship dog food to the EU?
Only to use the CETA origin quota of 60,000 tonnes. Each shipment under the quota needs a shipment-specific permit from Global Affairs Canada, and the invoice must refer to Annex 5-A.
Do I need an export declaration for pet food going to the US?
Not for non-restricted goods exported for consumption in the United States. For other destinations, commercial shipments worth CAN $2,000 or more need a declaration through CERS or G7 EDI.
How does Compliant Always help with exporting from Canada?
Our team reads the rules for the routes you ship. Compliant Always shows which export documents apply to your product, keeps them with the shipment beside what the destination asks for, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

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